Proposal to create more local care places for children

A project to create more council controlled residential care places in the Borough for vulnerable children could receive £400,000 of funding from April 2018.

The proposal is part of the council’s draft budget proposals for 2018/19 being discussed by Cabinet later this week (Thursday 18 January).

Cllr James Courtenay, Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, says: “This project will enable children to stay near their local communities and improve their life chances. It will also reduce the number of out of borough placements which are costly, saving approximately £80,000 per year initially.

“Along with providing more local residential care places for children, we will also be looking at options for respite and interim care facilities that help reduce the need for long-term placements.

“We would be looking to work with the care market to offer a solution on how we can achieve this, to both create new care places in the Borough but most importantly improve the outcomes for our most vulnerable children.”

The proposed investment is in addition to proposals to invest a further £250,000 into the council’s edge of care team, which works with and supports families to prevent children being taken into care.

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